Combined brush depth regulator and scraper

ABSTRACT

An adjustable platform is provided for immersion in a paint can. One edge of the platform has an upstanding inwardly disposed edge for scraping excess paint from the brush while the opposite edge has a support rod for varying the depth of the platform in the paint and for fastening to a clamp on the edge of the can.

United States Patent Peasley Feb. 15, 1972 [54] COMBINED BRUSH DEPTH 1,734,976 1 1/ 192 9 McClellan ..l5/257.05 3,100,313 8/1963 Ernst ..15/257.06

[72] Inventor: Curtiss M. Peasley, 25 Boulder Drive, FOREIGN PATENTS OR PLICATIONS Burlingmn' Mass- 01803 287,127 11/1965 Australia ..248/327 22 i July 19 9 73,383 3/1917 Switzerland ..15/257.073

[2]] Appl. N0.: 840,765 Primary Examiner-Walter A. Scheel Assistant Examiner-Alan 1. Cantor Attorney-Lawrence P. Benjamin IvZI 1.8.111 ..l5/2$7.05, 108/48, 220/90,

1 401/121 57 ABSTRACT [5| l Int. Cl. ..A47| 13/50 An ad ustable platform provlded for lmmerslon 1n a pamt [58] Field oiSearch ..l5/2S7.05,257.06,257.073, can one edge of the platform has an upstanding inwardly 220/; 206/51 B3 401/] 121; 248/414 dispdsed edge for scraping excess paint from the brush while 327, 157, 295, 300; 24/243421 BB; the opposite edge has a support rod for varying the depth of 108/148; 99/399, 410, 411 the platfonn in the paint and for fastening to a clamp on the edge of the can. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 Claims, 3 Figures 400,255 3/1889 Schuckman ..99/4l1 COMBINED BRUSH DEPTH REGULATOR AND SCRAPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to paint can attachments and more particularly to a combined immersion gauge and scraper with which the depth to which a paint brush may be inserted is accurately predetermined.

l-Ieretofore, when amateur painters dipped a paint brush into a bucket of paint, the brush came out either too heavily loaded with paint or, at times, not loaded enough. In any event, when the brush is inserted too deeply into the paint, sufficient paint would embed itself in the ferrule holding the bristles so as to render the brush impossible to properly clean and therefore useless for subsequent use.

Indeed, even professional painters, frequently shorten the life of an expensive brush by the unnecessary dipping too deeply. Further, whenever a brush is inserted too deeply, the excess paint tends to run back on the handle and on the hand of the user making it uncomfortable to use.

In the past, immersion gauges and depth regulators have been available but these were either the types that would either float on the surface of the paint or that were completely immersed in the paint can making adjustment difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a device for adjusting the depth to which paint brush may be immersed in a paint can. My device consists of a platform having, at one edge, a scraper device and an adjustment post at the opposite edge thereof. The other end of the adjustment post is arranged to be clamped to the edge of the can, so that only a slight pressure at the top of the adjustment post is needed to readjust the depth of the platform.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide an immersion gauge suitable for use in an ordinary paint can.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combined immersion gauge and scraper so that the same, predetermined amount of paint may be loaded onto the brush each time the brush is dipped into the bucket.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a combined immersion gauge and scraper wherein the depth to which a paint brush may be inserted is easily determined and varied.

The features of my invention which I believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description of the embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a transverse partial section view of a paint bucket having my device mounted there;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device inserted in a paint bucket; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the FIGS. there is shown my novel device mounted in a paint can 12 with the level therein as indicated, for example, at level 14.

Platform l6, herein arranged in a substantially horizontal position, is provided with an upstanding portion 18 having one end thereof connected to the platform and the other end thereof provided with an inwardly turned portion 20.

The opposite side of platform 16 is affixed to the lower end of the adjusting rod 22 so that the level of the platform 16 may be continuously varied and the level of platform 16 maintained at a relatively fixed distance below paint level 14.

rdway between the ends of rod 22 there is provided a U- shaped spring member 24 having suitable apertures in both legs thereof to accommodate the diameter of adjusting rod 22. Spring member 24 is biased in an outward direction to prevent any movement of rod 22, however, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, when any pressure is placed or applied to the top of rod 22, platform 16 will be moved further into the paint, below level 14. To raise the level of platform 16 it is merely necessary for the user to press or urge the legs of spring member 24 together and thereafter, move adjustment rod 22 in an upward direction.

Spring member 24 is further provided with a clamp means so that the entire device may be attached to the upper edge of a conventional paint can. While there is shown a thumbscrew 26 and threaded portion 28, it will be obvious that a spring or pressure type clamp may also be utilized to hold the device on the can edge.

As an additional means for aiding the user in determining the level of paint above platfonn 16, there is provided a notch 30 at the edges of the upstanding portion 18. Thus, as the paint level 14 diminishes and approaches platform 16, the user may either press spring member 24 together or tap the top of adjustment rod 22 so that paint level 14 is in alignment with the horizontal portion of notch 30 and the required level is maintained.

While I have described what is presently considered the preferred embodiment of my invention, it should now be obvious to those skilled in.the art that various other changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the inventive concept contained herein, and itis, therefore, aimed to cover all such other changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What is claimed is: k

l. A paint brush depth gauge, for use with a circular pant can having a cylindrical side, a bottom and an open end, comprising:

L-shaped moveable platform means oriented in a plane normal to the axis of the can and having one leg parallel to the bottom, the platform means moveable along a line parallel to the axis;

U-shaped clamp means for mounting on the edge of the open end of the can with the legs thereof biased in an outward direction, away from each other;

elongated support means, adjacent to and extending parallel to the axis, one end of which is adjacent to the bottom and affixed to the platform means, the other end of which is slideably engaged by the clamp means for selectively position the platform means in any one of a plurality of positions along the axis of the can;

.a pair of apertures, one in each leg of the clamp means, aligned with each other along a line parallel to the axis of the can to slideably engage and hold the elongate support means;

the outermost end of the one leg of the L-shaped platform means is affixed to the support means; an

the other leg of the platform means is an upstanding portion normal to the one leg and extending in a direction toward the open end of the can.

2. The depth gauge of claim 1, wherein:

the upstanding portion of the platform means is provided with an inwardly bent portion directed toward the support means to provide a scraping edge.

3. The depth gauge of claim 2, wherein:

the upstanding portion of the platform means is provided with a pair of notches arranged between the inwardly bent portion and the one leg of the platform. 

1. A paint brush depth gauge, for use with a circular pant can having a cylindrical side, a bottom and an open end, comprising: L-shaped moveable platform means oriented in a plane normal to the axis of the can and having one leg parallel to the bottom, the platform means moveable along a line parallel to the axis; U-shaped clamp means for mounting on the edge of the open end of the can with the legs thereof biased in an outward direction, away from each other; elongated support means, adjacent to and extending parallel to the axis, one end of which is adjacent to the bottom and affixed to the platform means, the other end of which is slideably engaged by the clamp means for selectively position the platform means in any one of a plurality of positions along the axis of the can; a pair of apertures, one in each leg of the clamp means, aligned with each other along a line parallel to the axis of the can to slideably engage and hold the elongate support means; the outermost end of the one leg of the L-shaped platform means is affixed to the support means; an the other leg of the platform means is an upstanding portion normal to the one leg and extending in a direction toward the open end of the can.
 2. The depth gauge of claim 1, wherein: the upstanding portion of the platform means is provided with an inwardly bent portion directed toward the support means to provide a scraping edge.
 3. The depth gauge of claim 2, wherein: the upstanding portion of the platform means is provided with a pair of notches arranged between the inwardly bent portion and the one leg of the platform. 